The Swiss own millions of guns, but have barely any gun deaths — here's what they do differently from the US

Nina Christen of Switzerland shoots in a 10m Rifle ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on August 4, 2016 in Brazil.

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Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

The Swiss celebrate hundreds of years of precise target
shooting and gun ownership.

Most Swiss men have to learn how to use a gun, but the
majority of Swiss people do not own firearms.

Militiamen can bring their guns home while serving, but
they aren't required to do so.

Switzerland is a country of chocolate, cheese, cuckoo
clocks, and lots of guns. Right? Not quite.

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The Swiss have often been touted by the National Rifle
Association (NRA) as a standout example of a country with little
gun control and a homicide rate near zero.

Citizens of the country have even developed a reputation for
having their guns ready in the closet at a moment's notice, which
has led some people to wonder if the Swiss are all required to
own arms in order to protect their state.

The short answer is no

In 2007, the international Small Arms Survey estimated that Swiss
civilians owned about
3.4 million guns, more than almost any other country in the
world (except the United States and Yemen). But there are signs
that the number of armed Swiss is dropping: its
now estimated there are roughly 2 million privately owned
guns in the country - about one for every four Swiss people.

The Swiss do, however, have a long history of cherishing hunting
rifles and practicing target shooting. In Zurich, an annual
festival even celebrates youngsters' burgeoning efforts to learn
to pull the trigger responsibly and accurately, with a
centuries-old
shooting contest open to girls and boys as young as 13.

Switzerland is home to a largely citizen-sourced militia that
supports the stance of "armed neutrality" - the country has
stayed neutral and
out of armed conflict since 1815.

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Swiss President Ueli Maurer pauses after a shot at 300 metres (984.25 feet) during a shooting exercise with the Foreign Diplomatic Corps in Switzerland on May 31, 2013. The annual exercise is a several hundred year-old tradition attended by some 120,000 Swiss marksmen.

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REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

The country also requires all "fit" Swiss men to participate in
its
mandatory military service. Women can volunteer to be in the
state militia too, but they don't have to. And anyone who objects
to fighting in the national ranks can instead volunteer in the
country's civilian
service, which might include more pacifist-friendly tasks
like providing social services or fixing up Swiss cultural sites.

Men who serve in the militia are trained and handed a weapon
that they can keep until they're done serving. But recent
estimates suggest
only 11% actually keep their rifles at home when they're not
working. Military ammunition is always kept separately at local
armories.

Former militiamen are offered the chance to buy their service
weapons when they're done serving, but they have to get a permit
for those state-issued guns. In fact, with the exception of
hunting rifles and semiautomatic longarms, any private gun owner
in Switzerland has to get
a permit for their gun. And if they've got a criminal record,
a history of violence, or are struggling with mental health or
addiction, local authorities won't issue one.